Tuesday 17 March 2009

Zafarraya & Alhama de Granada

Saturday 14th March 2009
Today we got up early and drove from Nerja to Zafarraya. We had heard that peregrine falcons are nesting in the area so we were hoping to catch a glimps. Unfortunately we never saw any, but saw plenty of chough's flying high between the gorge. A pair of kestrel were also flying about. I had gone there to see Blue Rock Thrush, and I saw plenty flying all over the craggy rocks. A lovely Rock Bunting was sitting happily on a rock which allowed for a very nice photo.

A highlight was actually seeing a Wren. We had heard him first and waited patiently for him to appear. We never see these tiny little birds down on the coast, so this was a real treat for us.
Birdlist: Kestrel, Buzzard, Chough, Serin, Stonechat, Black Redstart, Rock Bunting, Crag Martin, Blue Tit, Sardinian Warbler, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Goldfinch, Robin, Wren.

Next we drove to Alhama de Granada to where there are a few hides overlooking the lake. Nothing much on the lake except Coot and a couple of Pochard, one Shoveler, Little Grebe and a Red Knob Coot. The highlight was when we walked through the gorge toward the village along the small river and saw to our suprise a Dipper, diving in and out of the water. These are one of my favourite birds! Also saw Blue Tit and Great Tit, along with Blackcap.
Bird List: Kestrel, Coot, Red Knob Coot, Shoveler, Little Grebe, Pochard, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Blackcap, Cormorant, Blackbird, Chaffinch.

www.markmedcalfphotography.com

1 comment:

  1. Great "Blog" Mark and many congratulations. Your photos are supburb. Did you use google's "Blogger" to set up your blog site and, if so, how did you manage to portray your photos as you have done? I am feeling quite envious and must find a chance to pick your technical brain re what I am obviously not doing right (no pun intended).

    Marvellous, you see both a Wren and a Robin! Usually, from now on I see no Robins unless I visit parkland such as that near the hot springs at Alhama. Similarly, other than once at the top of El Torcal and again at the above private grounds, I am yet top see a Wren in Spain. As for the Dipper, well!

    I have now (tried) to extract one of each species seen in Florida and am taking a chance that "Picas" share can cope with uploading so many. Going down to the house to get some food and come back later to see if the computer has blown a proverbial fuse. On the other hand, if it works you should be receiving same sometime in the next however-long-it-takes.

    Congratulations and well done again. I will make a posting on my blog and pass on your news and blog address to my special birding pals.

    Bob Wight

    Definite;ly a need to pay a week-end visit in the hope that the bird is a "long-stayer" if not resident.

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